India seems to be entering a second wave of Covid-19, with the rising numbers of daily new cases and the return of lockdown in Nagpur. The authorities are keeping a close watch, though there is no need to panic as the healthcare systems are better prepared now and the vaccination drive is progressing  well.

As many as 23,285 new cases were registered in the 24 hours to Friday morning, an official release said. Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 14,317 (61.48% of the daily new cases), followed by Kerala with 2,133 while Punjab reported 1,305 new cases.

Eight states are displaying an upward trajectory in daily new cases. Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu continue to report a surge in the Covid daily cases. They cumulatively account for 85.6% of the new cases reported in the past 24 hours. Maharashtra imposed a second lockdown in Nagpur Wednesday as a precautionary measure to stem the spread of coronavirus.

India’s total Active Caseload has reached 1,97,237 on Thursday. India’s present active caseload now stands at 1.74% of India’s total Positive Cases.

Five states cumulatively account for 82.96% of the total active cases in the country. Two states – Maharashtra and Kerala – account for 71.69% of India’s total active cases.

The centre is actively engaging with all state and UT governments, especially those showing an upsurge in daily new cases and with a high caseload of active cases. The union government is regularly reviewing the status of Covid containment and public health measures with them.

Recently, the centre rushed high level public health teams to Maharashtra and Punjab to assist in Covid-19 control and containment measures in view of recent spike in cases in these states. The central government had earlier also deputed high-level teams to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir to support them in their fight against the recent spike in Covid-19 cases. The reports of central teams are shared with the states for follow-up action. The follow-up and compliance on part of states is monitored by the union ministry of health.

Vaccination
More than 2.61 crore (2,61,64,920) vaccine doses have been administered through 4,87,919 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am Thursday. These include 72,23,071 healthcare workers (HCWs) (1st dose), 40,56,285 HCWs (2nd dose), 71,21,124 frontline workers (FLWs) (1st dose) and 6,72,794 FLWs (2nd Dose), 10,30,612 beneficiaries aged more than 45 years with specific co-morbidities (1st Dose) and 60,61,034 beneficiaries aged more than 60 years.

As many as 4,80,740 vaccine doses were given on Day-55 of the vaccination drive (11th March, 2021); 4,02,138 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 9,751 sessions for 1st dose (HCWs and FLWs) and 78,602 HCWs and FLWs received 2nd dose of vaccine.

In most of the states, people celebrated Maha Shivratri on Wednesday. Other than being a gazetted holiday, many people also observed a fast, particularly women including ANMs, ASHA workers and women vaccinators. The Covid vaccination coverage is hence reported to be on the lower side.

More than 1.09 crore (1,09,53,303) people have recovered so far. 15,157 patients have recovered and got discharged in the 24 hours to Thursday morning.

As many as 117 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. Six States account for 82.91%of the new deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties (57). Punjab follows with 18 daily deaths andKeralareported13 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Nineteen states/UTs have not reported any Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Manipur, D&D & D&N, Mizoram, Ladakh (UT), A&N Islands, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.